Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Warmer fabrics sewing a skirt for winter
darklyndsea Advanced Beginner Member since 8/24/11 Posts: 3	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/11/12 1:50 AM I feel kind of stupid, because I can't find any fabrics I like that would be good for a skirt that I'll wear during the winter (admittedly, looking around a JoAnn's in Texas is probably not the best way to find wintery fabrics). I don't even know what good winter fabrics are, except for wool (which wouldn't be good for a skirt, right? Because I need to be able to wash my clothes). So please, enlighten me: what reasonably-priced woven fabric is good for winter clothing?
prostheticsgirl Intermediate OH USA Member since 3/6/12 Posts: 56	Login to reply to this post 3 members like this. Date: 11/11/12 8:29 AM Personally for sewing projects I pre-wash and dry all my wool a couple of times before cutting. This pre-shrinks the crap out of it (you probably need to buy a little extra fabric) but then my fabric can be laundered. After the garment is constructed I usually wash on cold with similiar colors and hang dry to minimize future fading. I'm sure this approach is "technically wrong" but I also do the same for most silks I sew. Don't try with RTW though our you'll end up with really nice doll clothes!
gramma b Advanced USA Member since 7/25/08 Posts: 2262	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/11/12 8:41 AM I have a DIL in Tx. who favors long skirts in the winter with cowboy boots. You can use a heavier knit in a basic A-line pull-on pattern for warmth, no zipper. Fabric.com has an easy one to print, the Nancy dress, with a yoga-style fold-down waistband, just 3 easy seams. Plus there are lots of skirt Freebies to print out online. Wools can get hot so consider corduroy or a stretch twill. New Look 6843 is a quick easy pattern. If you are in the DFW area, check out the Dallas alternatives like Golden D'Or area. I haven't been there but others here know it. JA's and Hancocks offer few but pricey knits--don't know why they can't get them like online sites when we plead for them. -- Edited on 11/11/12 8:48 AM --
idahodogs Advanced Beginner ID USA Member since 4/22/08 Posts: 419	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/11/12 11:49 AM I like suedecloth for long winter skirts. It's washable, drapey, easy to sew, and the wind doesn't go right through it. It can be spendy, but not any more than wool. I also have a couple 'nicer' wool blend skirts which I wash in the machine on cold and then hang dry. Those are ones that I don't wear for work, so they don't usually have to be washed *every* use. They are RTW, but making your own out of pre-washed wool sounds even better! I too wear wear long skirts with boots for winter, and I add tights/leggings/slips/petticoats/pants/etc. underneath as needed to stay warm. HTH ------ - Labore est orare (work is prayer) - John Ruskin
Marie367   Intermediate OH USA Member since 5/28/11 Posts: 1343	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/11/12 3:22 PM You could use suede cloth, knit, corduroy, wool-they all make nice skirts. I have never tried pre-washing wool but I might try that. I use Dryel in the dryer to freshen up things that can't be washed. Actually JoAnn's (they get a bad rap some of which is deserved) has a Ponte knit that is pretty nice-it is a bit heavier. Hancock's has it too. You do have to look through JoAnn's fabric, but some of their fabric is a decent quality.
mmcp   Advanced Beginner MD USA Member since 5/31/09 Posts: 92	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/13/12 7:23 PM Wool comes in all kinds of weights-there's even one called "tropical weight" which is used for men's summer suits. It wears beautifully, lasts forever (if the moths don't get it), and if you line it, feels great when you wear it. There are wool-cotton blends but they wrinkle a lot more, and I think pure wool wears much better. It will be more expensive, but if you are making classic clothing, you will get your money's worth from the years of wear.
ChristinePDX Advanced Beginner OR USA Member since 10/4/08 Posts: 511	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 11/13/12 8:44 PM I am currently making a tropical wool A-line skirt with a drawstring waist, casual and warm. Does it have to be woven? I also made a mid-calf straight skirt with a wide elastic waistband out of a heavy cotton knit, that I can wear with boots. Ponte knit would also be a great choice for a warmer skirt. But back to woven: corduroy and velvet. Velvet doesn't have to look fancy, it can be made up into a casual or office look easily.
JimmyOliver Intermediate Member since 12/13/12 Posts: 2	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 12/13/12 1:51 AM There are different types of woven woolen fabrics.. Blazer Fabric:- This fabric is required all over the world for different purposes, like garment manufacturing, home furnishings, throws, mats, tea-cozy covers, bedspreads etc. It is a very warm fabric to keep you cozy and protect you from chilly winters. This collection is designed in a spectrum of colors. Herringbone Fabric:- Herringbone fabric which is woven from either woolen or worsted yarns. It has a zigzag twill pattern on the fabric surface. The fabric is usually wool, and is one of the most popular cloths used for suits and outerwear. Houndstooth Fabric:- Woolen Houndstooth is made with alternating bands of four dark and four light threads in both warp and weft woven in a simple 2:2 twill, two over - two under the warp, advancing one thread each pass. The traditional colours are black and white, although we make houndstooth in modern versions with more colorful substitutions. It can be used in constructing clothes like womens dress, Jackets, Skirts and home furnishing items. Jacketing Fabric:- Jacketing cloth is used as garment, wall cloth, sofa cover, car seat cover and other home furnishing items like bedding, quilt etc. Different type of finishes are available like printed, embossed, embroidered, quilted and many such effects can be given to the fabric depending upon the different application of the product. Tweed:- This rough, heavier weight fabric is extremely durable, flexible and resistant to the elements, making it an ideal choice. It is made in either plain or twill weaves and may have a check or herringbone pattern. The interesting color effects are obtained by twisting together differently colored woolen strands into a two- or three-ply yarn. This woolen tweed is desirable for making informal outerwear. For more fabric details have a look on kochartex.com
LDT2011 Advanced Beginner UNITED KINGDOM Member since 11/18/11 Posts: 451	Login to reply to this post Like this post Date: 12/13/12 5:08 AM I made myself a skirt from a tartan poly blend which I've worn quite a bit in the UK winter weather. ------ 'The purpose of most fashion is to be ostentatiously non-functional.'
clothingengineer   Intermediate CT USA Member since 5/7/10 Posts: 354	Login to reply to this post In reply to darklyndsea << Like this post Date: 12/13/12 9:47 AM Wool is probably my favorite fabric for skirts, and it absolutely can be cared for at home. It is extremely resistant to dirt and doesn't hold smells so it actually doesn't need to be cleaned all that often. I follow a similar process to prostheticsgirl in that I prewash in cool water with Eucalan and line dry. After prewashing sometimes it gets thicker and fuzzier, but since it lets me avoid the dry cleaner I'm fine with that texture change. Since I wear my skirts with pantyhose or tights and change out of them as soon as I get home from work I wash them only once a year. A good clothes brush, hanging it up to air as soon as you change out of it, and spot cleaning help a lot. ------ -- Anne http://clothingengineer.com

Go to Page: 1 of 22 of 2

Please LOGIN or Join PatternReview

Printable Version

* Advertising and soliciting is strictly prohibited on PatternReview.com. If you find a post which is not in agreement with our Terms and Conditions, please click on the Report Post button to report it.